Oh Youngmisuk | ESPN Nov. 17, 2023, 2:25 p.m. ETLectura: 2 min.
Russell Westbrook is expected to come off the Clippers’ bench, sources told ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk, as the team seeks its first win since adding James Harden.
It is expected that the LA Clippers make an alignment change with Russell Westbrook coming off the bench to help the team try to break a six-game losing streak against the Houston Rockets on Friday, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Los Clippers (3-7) have lost the last five with James Harden in the lineup. Versatile point guard Terance Mann is expected to move into the starting lineup with Westbrook as sixth man for the first time in his time with the Clippers.
Russell Westbrook would come off the bench for the Clippers against the Rockets on Friday. Barry Gossage/NBA/Getty Images
Sources confirmed that Westbrook spoke with the coaching staff of the Clippers Thursday about coming off the bench, a move that was first reported by Bleacher Report. He head coach Ty Lue will meet with reporters during his pre-match press conference on Friday night.
The team hasn’t been in sync since Harden was acquired on Oct. 30. Lue had started Westbrook, Harden, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac and then made moves with his four stars by pairing former Oklahoma City Thunder teammates Westbrook and George with the second unit and Harden and Leonard together.
The four stars of the Clippers They have been outscored by 20 points during their 76 minutes together, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
In five games, Harden He is averaging 15 points and 10.2 shots, his lowest since averaging 16.8 points and 10.1 shots as a sixth man in his final season with the Thunder in 2011-12.
Lue said before Tuesday’s 111-108 loss at Denver that he had not considered making a lineup change when asked about the possibility that Westbrook directed the second unit. While Lue liked what she saw in a lineup she used to start the final quarters recently with Westbrookthe head coach acknowledged after the loss to the defending champions that keeping everyone happy will be a challenge.
Westbrookwhich has taken on more of a leadership role with the Clippers This season, he finished with 8 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 24 minutes against the Nuggets. The only game in which he played fewer minutes was when he logged 20 minutes in a blowout loss to Dallas on November 10.
2023-11-17 19:25:00
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